Remotely positionable lamp



July 4, 1961 M. P. HAlNEs 2,991,351

REMOTELY POSITIONABLE LAMP Filed Dec. 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /lrok/Viro'.

July 4, 1961 M. P. HAlNEs REMOTELY POSITIONABLE LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Deo. 5, 1958 V In INVENTOR. Mu MLM i. MWA/f5.

United States Patent 2,991,351 REMOTELY POSITIONABLE LAMP Malcolm P.Haines, R.R. 14, Box 792, Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Dec. 5, 1958, Ser.No. 778,346 8 Claims. (Cl. 240-61.13)

This invention relates generally to remotely positionable lamps such asspotlights or the like and in particular to spotlights which can beadjusted to a desired attitude in both a horizontal and a vertical planeby means of a single, remote actuator.

In utilizing lamps such as spotlights or the like, operating conditionsoften require that means be provided for adjustably positioning the lampremotely from its physical location. A familiar example exists in thespotlights positioned on the exterior of autos, particular-ly policepatrol cars or ambulances, which are positionally yadjusted from theauto interior. Some spotlights of this type are mounted on a postpassing through a universal joint in the auto body, the spotlight beingpositioned by directly manipulating the inner end of the post. Where thespotlight is to be mounted at a location other than immediately adjacentto the auto dashboard, on the roof, for example, the direct mechan-icalconnection of the light and its control member or handle is obviouslyunsatisfactory. Attempts at solution of this problem` have, in the past,involved the use of multpile exible shafts, differential gearing and thelike.. An example of prior art devices may be found disclosed in KosianPatent No. 1,768,613.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a remotelypositionable lamp or spotlight utilizing a single flexible member ftoprovide both rotational movement of the spotlight in a horizontal planeand tilting movement in a vertical plane.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spotlightpositioned by a remote actuating member wherein the spotlight assemblyper se includes flexible members attached to each of two pulleysdisposed on opposite sides of the. spotlight assembly and on theverticaltilt axis thereof, the ilexible members rotating the pulleys asthe actuating member is moved, whereby tilting force is applied to thespotlight assembly uniformly and backlash is eliminated or at leastminimized.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spotlightpositioned by a remote actuating member characterized by a motiontransmission system between the actuator and the spotlight wherein themotion of the spotlight follows the motion of the actuator withoutrequiring the use of return springs. or similar biasing means.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a spotlightof the type referred to above which incorporates an auxiliary warninglight on its rear face.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spotlightof the type referred to above having a manual actuator incorporating asimple, adjustable detent mechanism for establishing a neutral or stowedposition for the lamp assembly.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a spotlightof the type referred to Iabove which can be oriented in both ahorizontal and vertical plane by manipulation of its actuator with onehand.

It-is a further object of the present invention to prorice 2 vide amobile spotlight which is of rugged construction and easily installed.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section, illustrating a spotlightembodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lamp assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of of the apparatus shown in FIG.l.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the drive pivot assembly.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating the action of thedrive mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the wiring circuit for theapparatus of the present invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the spotlight assembly includes acircular lamp Iframe 10` which accommodates the convex lens 11 of aconventional sealed beam type of lamp, having a reflector plate 12, anincandescent element 13 and a terminal connection 14 al1 visible in FIG.2. The frame also accommodates a convex lens `16 which serves to focusthe light originating from the conventional low voltage bulb 17. Thelens 16 may be colored to provide a warning illumination from the rear-face of the spotlight, the lens 11 directing the primary spotlightbeam. The frame 10 is supported by .a yoke comprising spaced legs 118vand a central support member 19'. The lamp frame 10 is supported atopposite points on the spaced legs by means of drive pivot assemblies 21and 22.

Referring to FIG. 4, the drive pivot assemblies each include a bearingand electrical insulating member 23 rigidly carried on the end of theyoke legs 18. The inner face of the yoke leg is recessed to accommodatea sheave 24 having an extending portion 26 received within an aperture2'7 in the member 23. A boss carried by the sheave is internallythreaded to receive a clamp nut 31 which serves -to rigidly attach thesheave to the lamp frame. An electrical conductor member 32 extendscentrally through the clamp nut and the sheave is electrically insulatedtherefrom by the insulator members 33 and 34. At one end the conductormember 32 is formed to provide a connecting terminal 32a and at itsother end is provided with a head 3211 which Abears against a conductingblock 36 slidable within the member 23. v

A compression spring 37 serves to provide electrical contact between theblock 36 and the conductor member 32, but permits rotation of theconductor member relative to the block. Both the member 23 and the yokeleg are apertured toaccommodate an insulated wire 38 which iselectrically connected as at 39 to the block 36. The terminal 32a isadapted to be connected to one terminal of the sealed beam incandescentmember 13 (FIG. 2), the wire 38 thus forming one circuit connection forthe lamp, the other circuit connection being provided by grounding ofleg 18.

The sheave is provided with a peripheral groove 41 which receives aflexible cable 42 formed of nylon or similar material. Apertures 43 and44 in the sheave permit the cable to be connected therein, providingattachment to the sheave. The cable extends freely through the axialaperture in the yoke leg 46.

a portion While .only the drive pivot assembly 21 has been desribed indetail, it will be understood that the drive pivot assembly 22 issubstantially identical with a flexible cable 47 and an electrical wire48 which are the counterparts of the cable 42 and the wire 38 in thepivot assembly 21. The pivot assembly 22 differs from pivot assembly 21in that in pivot assembly 21 the cable 42 extends tangentially from therear peripheral edge ofthe sheave 24 (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4), whilethe cable 47 extends tangentially from the front marginal edge of thesheave forming a part of pivot assembly 22. The sheave just referred tois not visible in FIG. 1, but its general position and relation tosheave 24 is shown in FIG. 5, wherein it is identiied by referencenumeral 51.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the support member 19 is mounted forrotational movement by means of ball bearings 52 which are accommodatedin an annular recess in the support member and are supported on theoutwardly flanged upper end of a support tube 53. The support tube maybe rigidly mounted on the supporting surface 54 by any suitable means,such as the screws S6. The enlarged upper end of the tube 53accommodates an annular member 57 formed of electrical insulatingmaterial and mounting collector rings 58 and 59. The support member 19carries a spring loaded brush 61 which cooperates with the collectorring 58 which is electrically connected to the wire 38. A spring loadedbrush 62 is similarly carried by the support member 19 and cooperateswith the inner collector ring 59. A wire 63 is electrically connected tothe collector ring 58 and extends through the tube 53 to be connected toone terminal 64 of a threeposition switch 66 which is located remotelyfrom the spotlight assembly.

The collector ring 59 is connected by means of a wire 67 to anotherterminal 68 of the three-position switch. The common terminal of thethree-position Vswitch 66 is connected toa source of electrical powerwhich may take the form of the conventional 6-12 volt automobilebattery, indicated at 69. One side of the battery is grounded, as isconventional, the supporting surface 54 for the spotlight is alsogrounded to provide a circuit path. lt will be understood that theconductor member 32 is connected to the spotlight and the correspondingconductor member forming a part of the pivot assembly 22 is connected tothe auxiliary warning bulb 17 of FIG. 2. The circuit arrangementreferred to is shown in FIG. 6, and, as will be evident from FIGS. 1 and6, movement of the three-position switch from its neutral or olfposition will alternately energize either the spotlight or the auxiliarywarning light provided by bulb 17.

The `means for rotating the lamp frame on an axis extending between thepivot assemblies and for rotating the supporting yoke in a horizontalplane will now be described with reference to FIGS. l and 3. Dependingfrom the lower end of the support member 19 are spaced members 71 and 72which extend within the tube 53. The members 71 and 72 accommodatetherebetween a crosshead 73 which is vertically slidable between themembers and is attached to a flexible cable 74. The flexible cable isencased Within a flexible sheath 76, this assembly being of aconventional type. The flexible cable and sheath are supported inconventional `fashion by means of an internally threaded member 78accommodated on the threaded boss extending from the end plate 53a ofthe tube 53. It will be understood that the crosshead and the members 71and 72 provide a motion transmission element whereby rotary motion ofthe crosshead will be transmitted to the support member 19 withouttransmitting linear movement of the crosshead to the support member 19.

As may be seen in FIG. l, the flexible cable 42 is directly attached tothe crosshead at 79. The tlexible `cable 47 extends around a motionreversing sheave 81 4carried by the members 71 and 72 and is attached at82 to the crosshead.

With the cables 47 and 42 extending from their corresponding sheaves, asshown in FIG. 5, when the crosshead is lowered within the members 71 and72, the downward force will be applied to the cable 42 which will rotatethe sheave 24 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5. Since the sheave 24 ismechanically linked through the frame 10 to the sheave 51, this sheave,forming a part of the pivot assembly 22, will also be rotated clockwise,as viewed in FIG. 5. This draws the cable 47 upwardly which, through theaction of the motion reversing sheave 81, accommodates the downwardmotion of the crosshead. If the crosshead is moved upwardly within themembers 71 and 72, the cable 47 is drawn downwardly, thereby rotatingsheaves 51 and 24 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 5, the cable 42moving upwardly thereby to accommodate the upward motion of thecrosshead. lt will be noted that this take-up action of the sheavessubstantially eliminates slack or backlash in the drive arrangement.

Rotating the tlexible cable 74 produces rotary motion of the crossheadwhich is transferred to the support member 19, the lamp supporting yokebeing thereby rotated in a plane parallel to the support surface 54. Theflexible cable and sheath 74-76 may extend to the required locationremote from the spotlight assembly and may be attached to a remoteactuator indicated generally at 83. The remote actuator includes atubular body 84 mounted by means of clamp nuts 86 to a support surface87. The exible cable 74 is rigidly connected to a central rod 88 whichextends through the body 84 and carries on its outer end a manualoperator or handle 89. The portion of the rod 88 within the body 84carries thereon a member 91, the member 91 being ad justably positionedalong the rod by means of a setscrew 92. The member 91 is provided witha detent recess 93 which accommodates a spring biased detent ball 94carried within the sidewardly extending portion 96 of the body 84.Cooperation of the detent recess and the detent ball provides a neutralor detent position for the rod 88 and consequently for the lampassembly.

In operation, the spotlight assembly may be positioned in a horizontalplane, that is, in a plane parallel to support surface 54, by rotatingthe handle 89 of the remote actuator, the rotary motion beingtransmitted through the crosshead 73 to the spotlight supporting yoke.Linear motion of the handle 89 of the remote actuator causes tilting ofthe spotlight in a vertical plane, that is, about an axis defined by thedrive pivot assemblies 21 and 22. It will be noted that both this rotarymotion in a horizontal plane and the tilting in a vertical plane mayproceed through 360, the extent of continuous motion of the spotlight ina vertical plane depending upon how many complete turns of the cablesare wound on the sheaves.

The feature of the present invention can, of course, be utilized in aspotlight which omits the auxiliary warning light described herein, andis adapted for directional outdoor lighting other than on vehicles. In aspotlight of this modified type the pivot contact and the collector ringfor the auxiliary bulb 17 could be used as `one of the A C. lines to thespotlight.

The apparatus of the present invention thus provides a two wireelectrical circuit to its lighting element. The spotlight can beremotely moved through 360 or more by manipulation of its actuator withone hand. There are no gears or sprockets utilized in the apparatus.'Ihe drive is not subject to either slippage or backlash. Relativelyheavy spotlight units can be oriented in both a horizontal and verticalplane since the motive force is applied close to the center of balanceof the unit, and movement in `both a horizontal and vertical plane isaccomplished by use of a single motion transmitting cable.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character,'as other`rrloditicationsmay readily suggest themselves to persons skilled inthis art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference beinghad to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A remotely positionable spotlight comprising an electricallyenergized lamp mounted within a frame, a yoke for mounting said framehaving spaced legs and a vertically disposed support member, said yokebeing joined to said frame by drive pivot assemblies carried atoppositely disposed points on the legs of said yoke, said drive pivot`assemblies each comprising a sheave rigidly mounted on said frame andhaving an extending portion journalled for lrotation -in said yoke, aflexible cable carried on each of said sheaves and arranged thereon sothat motion of said cables in opposite directions producesunidirectional rotation of said sheaves, a motion transmitting elementmovable with relation to said support member in a vertical di-rectionand means for preventing movement of said motion transmitting elementwith relation to said support member in `a horizontal direction, one ofsaid cables being connected directly to said transmission element andthe other of said cables being connected to said transmission elementthrough a motion-reversing sheave, mounting means on said yoke forrotation thereof in a horizontal plane, a remote actuator mounted forboth linear and rotational motion and having a exible connection to saidmotion transmission element whereby linear motion of said actuator tiltssaid lamp frame in a vertical plane and rotational movement of saidactuator rotates said lamp frame in a horizontal plane.

2. A remotely positionable spotlight comprising an electricallyenergized lamp mounted within va frame, a yoke for mounting said framehaving -spaced legs and a support member, said yoke being joined to saidframe by Adrive pivot assemblies carried at oppositely disposed pointson the legs of said yoke, said drive pivot assemblies each lcomprising asheave rigidly mounted on said frame and having an extending portionjournalled for rotation in .said yoke, ya ilexible cable carried on eachof said sheaves :and arranged thereon so that motion of said cables inopposite directions produces unidirectional rotation of said sheaves, amotion transmitting element movable with relation to said support memberalong the axis thereof and means for preventing movement of said motiontransmitting element with relation to said support member in a directiontransverse to the axis thereof, one of said cables being connecteddirectly to said transmission element and the other off said cablesbeing connected to said transmission element through a motion-reversingsheave, mounting means on said yoke for rotation thereof in a horizontalplane, a remote actuator mounted for both linear and rotational motionand having a tiexible connection to said motion transmission elementwhereby linear motion of said actuator tilts said lamp frame in a planeparallel to the axis of said support member and rotational movement ofsaid actuator rotates said lamp frame in a plane transverse to the axisof said support member.

3. A remotely positionable spotlight comprising an electricallyenergized lamp mounted within :a frame, a yoke for mounting said framehaving spaced legs and a support member, said yoke being joined to saidframe by drive pivot assemblies carried at oppositely disposed points onthe legs of said yoke, said drive pivot assemblies including rotatablemeans for tilting said frame within said yoke, ilexible cables engagingsaid rotatable means and `arranged so that motion of said cablesproduces tilting of said frame, a motion transmitting element movablewith relation to said support member along the axis thereof and meansfor preventing movement of said motion transmitting element withrelation to said support member in a direction transverse to the axisthereof, said cables `being connected to said transmission element,mounting means on said yoke for rotation thereof in a .6 horizontalplane, a remote actuator mounted `for both linear and rotational motionand having a single flexible connection to said motion transmissionelement whereby linear motion of said actuator tilts said lamp frame ina plane parallel to the axis of said support member and rotationalmovement of said actuator rotates said lamp in a plane transverse to theaxis of said support member.

4. A remotely positionable spotlight as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidremote actuator includes a single flexible shaft, a housing, a memberextending through and movable within the housing, means exterior of thehousing for manually moving said member linearly and rotationally withinsaid housing, said flexible shaft having a rigid mechanical connectionto said member, and detent means for establishing a reference positionfor said shaft comprising an element adjustably positioned on saidmember and a cooperating detent socket and detent abutment carried bysaid element and said housing.

5. A remotely positionable spotlight as claimed in claim 3, whereinelectrical energization of the light generating elements is accomplishedAby dual electric circuits thereto, said electric circuits includingconductor elements carried by said yoke and abuttin-gly engaged withconductor elements carried by said frame to maintain electricalcontinuity upon relative movement between the frame and the yoke,concentric collector rings stationarily mounted in encircling relationwith said support member, brushes carried by said support member insliding engagement with said collector rings, and wiring meansconnecting said brushes to the conductor elements carried by said yokewhereby electrical continuity is maintained upon rotation of said lampframe in a plane transverse to the axis of said support member.

6. A remotely positionable spotlight as claimed in claim 3, whereinelectrical energization of the light generating elements is accomplishedby an electric circuit thereto, said elect-ric circuit includingconductor elements carried by said yoke and abu-ttingly engaged withconductor elements carried by said frame to maintain electricalcontinuity upon relative movement between the frame and the yoke, and abrush in sliding engagement with a collector ring operable by saidsupport member, whereby electrical continuity is maintained uponrotation of said lamp frame in a plane transverse to the -axis `of saidsupport member.

7. A remotely positionable assembly comprising an element to bepositioned, a yoke for mounting said positioned element having spacedlegs and a vertically disposed support member, said yoke being joined tosaid element by drive pivot assemblies carried at oppositely disposedpoints on the legs of said yoke, said drive pivot assemblies includingrotatable means for tilting said positioned element within said yoke,ilexible cables engaging said rotatable means and arranged so thatmotion of said cables produces tilting of said positioned element, amotion transmitting element movable with relation to said support memberalong the axis thereof and means for preventing movement of said motiontransmitting element with relation to said support member in a directiontransverse to the axis thereof, at least one of said cables beingconnected to said transmission element, mounting means on said yoke forrotation thereof in a horizontal plane, a remote actuator mounted forboth linear and rotational motion and having a exible connection to saidmotion transmission element whereby linear motion of said actuator tiltssaid positioned element in a plane parallel to the axis of said supportmember 4and rotational movement of said actuator rotates said positionedelement in a plane transverse to the axis of said support member.

8. In a remotely positionable spotlight a lamp frame, a yoke formounting said frame having spaced legs and a central support member,said yoke being joined to said frame by drive pivot assemblies carriedat oppositely disposed points on said legs, said drive pivot assemblieseach comprising a rotatable member rigidly mounted on said frame andjournalled for rotation in said yoke, a ilex- -ible cable attached toeach of said rotatable members, said References Cited -in the-tile ofthis lpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sagle Oct. '12, 19,20

Beam June 13, 1922 Goetz Mar. 9, 1926 Cameron Dec. 17, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS Germany Nov. 15, 1956

